First time boat

[ops7898]

Hey everyone,
I'm getting ready to purchase my first boat and could really use some advice on which direction to go. This will be a family boat—I've got three young kids—and we'll primarily be using it on lakes and the river.

The two boats I'm currently considering are:

• Carrera 257 Effect
• Commander Signature 26'

If anyone has experience with either of these, or suggestions for similar family-friendly boats, I’d appreciate the input. Thanks in advance!

 

[pkrrvr619]

Wildly different boats. Ones a cat and ones a v hull.

Cats need bigger power on average to perform correctly. Which increases costs all around. Fuel, maint, insurance etc.

A 26 v for a first boat would be my advice. What motor drive combo in the commander?

 

[SKIDMARC]

For the kids tubing and maybe some wakeboarding or skiing in the future, go the V hull route.

 

[ops7898]

Wildly different boats. Ones a cat and ones a v hull.

Cats need bigger power on average to perform correctly. Which increases costs all around. Fuel, maint, insurance etc.

A 26 v for a first boat would be my advice. What motor drive combo in the commander?

Both boats have a 496HO.

 

[DWC]

Where do you do most of your boating? Kids into water sports? How many people are usually in the group?
You can do water sports behind a cat. It’s a pain in the ass to keep on plane and depending on power, get on plane.

 

[BUDMAN]

For all around kid fun go with the commander. Not to mention it will be cheaper to insure than a cat. I would also recommend getting some boating experience before owning a cat. IMO
Good luck and congrats on whatever you decide.

 

[ops7898]

For all around kid fun go with the commander. Not to mention it will be cheaper to insure than a cat. I would also recommend getting some boating experience before owning a cat. IMO
Good luck and congrats on whatever you decide.

Thank you I apricate the input!

 

[ops7898]

Where do you do most of your boating? Kids into water sports? How many people are usually in the group?
You can do water sports behind a cat. It’s a pain in the ass to keep on plane and depending on power, get on plane.

It will be in Havasu mostly. Water sports will be tubing

 

[DWC]

It will be in Havasu mostly. Water sports will be tubing

Think you’re on the right track. V bottom in the 24’ to 26’ range. You don’t need to go that big but it does help smooth out the lake a bit during busy weekends or strong winds. 496 is a great motor. Good on gas and should put up a ton of hours with proper maintenance

 

[rrrr]

I'll be the wet blanket old man.

Consider buying a decent low time 24' production boat, Chaparral is a good choice. Something from the 2015-2019 era will be affordable, and you'll learn the many things necessary to be an efficient and safe captain.

Be objective about your visions with a boat. The kids will be happier with a towered boat and ballast system. You're really buying a boat for them, and I think the hull design is safer when getting them in and out of the water. The one I linked below has direct swim platform access through a stern opening. The tower can stow wakeboards and a tube, something to consider when you have three juniors.

Yeah, you'll look cooler in the Commander, but look again at that hull and picture your children having to climb in and out of it on the water. Think about circling back to retrieve a small fallen wakeboarder, the restricted sightlines, and the ability to maneuver with the Chaparral duo-prop drive compared to the Commander. The duo-prop doesn't have torque steer, it backs up straight and true. The Commander will tail off to the side when backing in reverse, making positioning more difficult. The Chaparral will plane faster with less bow rise than the other boat.

Again, you have a family. What input does your wife have in the decision?Boating for them will have different expectations than you might, they'll want the experience to be fun for them. They'll want to bring their friends. The boat is going to be an amusement park ride, and the quality of it depends on you, and it's a lot of work. If they aren't begging to go to the lake, it'll evolve into "Do we have to go?"

This does not mean you won't have fun. My best boating memories are pulling laughing kids on a big towable, and some occasionally being bounced off when crossing the wake. The laughter and smiles are gold.

Part of boating is becoming proficient and again, safe, in towing the kids, docking, trailering the boat, launching, retrieving, and basic maintenance. This takes time and effort, but it's also important to becoming a captain. A smaller and lighter boat will place fewer demands on your learning curve. Take a Coast Guard affiliated boater safety course too.

Keep it a season or two, then decide to upgrade to something with more performance. This one is a good example. If you're going to finance the purchase, the monthly would be less than $500 with a reasonable down payment.

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2017-chaparral-227-ssx-surf-9408673/

 

[BUDMAN]

^^THIS^^ raised all our kids on a Chaparral. Perfect all around family boat. I called ours the suburban of boats

 

[Backlash]

I wouldn't start with a boat that large as a first boat. I would reduce the size to something closer to 21'. Not only is it more manageable for you, it will be easier for others too. Someone will have to help you with trailering, and that's a little easier with something more manageable. As stated, the smaller size will be more affordable and just "Easier" in general. Just my .02.

 

[4Waters]

It will be in Havasu mostly. Water sports will be tubing

It will be tubing for now but the kids will eventually want to wakeboard, wake surf, ski.... as they get older. I'd get a wake boat.

 

[spectras only]

I wouldn't start with a boat that large as a first boat. I would reduce the size to something closer to 21'. Not only is it more manageable for you, it will be easier for others too. Someone will have to help you with trailering, and that's a little easier with something more manageable. As stated, the smaller size will be more affordable and just "Easier" in general. Just my .02.

Actually, the boat rrrr suggested is closer to 21' if you discount the swimgrid. It looks pretty nice and could be had for a long time before upgrade to another boat. If OP have the patience and take some advise and ride alongs with some seasoned boater, he might master driving the boat quickly. He didn't mention what his budget is, that's also important about his choosing.

 

[PlumLoco]

I would strongly recommend a 18-22' jet boat. You and the wife will have a much less stressful time getting kids in and out, and around the docks especially. And when mistakes are made, neither you nor the kids will lose blood on the prop. When the kids get to be teens, and they have become somewhat experienced, then you can move up to something that has room for friends. A jet boat wake is generally very skier/tubing friendly. Learn 'em how to ski before moving on to a board.

 

[pkrrvr619]

don't listen to these old farts that 26 with a 496 won't have enough power to hurt ya. and you will look cool until your kids want a wake boat.

the Carrera with a 496 is a non starter, way underpowered.

 

[jperog]

The biggest tri-toon you can afford. Twin engines are great for maneuverability around the docks. It will do everything well and is the ultimate in "family friendly".

Joe

 

[Cooter01]

My vote would be a pontoon or a run of the mill searay, chaparral, four winns, something along that to get your feet wet on boating. Get a few year older one so in a few years you can sell it and not be out a ton of money. Plus with three young kids, they can make mistakes and not be a costly fix interior wise.

 

[Happy Smitty]

26 commander typically has an affordable price point for what you get. From my experience the 496 EFI seems to be very common and reliable. It's been around long enough that everyone knows the issues. Like owning a 7.3 powerstroke, just be aware of the issues and stay on regular maintenance. If it were me I'd got with the commander. My last boat was a 2001 21' commander jet 502. Fun boat for a family of 4. With two on board I could rip around like those Aussie jet bote racers.

 

[rrrr]

The biggest tri-toon you can afford. Twin engines are great for maneuverability around the docks. It will do everything well and is the ultimate in "family friendly".

Joe View attachment 1490222 View attachment 1490223 View attachment 1490224 View attachment 1490225

One of your engines cost more than the boats he's considering. It'll be a pretty crappy tritoon.

 

[Bpracing1127]

Go big or go home. Get a dcb with twin turbo Carson motors!

 

[Havasu blue label]

Both boats have a 496HO.

Commander with a 496 is perfect and dependable

 

[zbudman]

My friend had a 26 Commander. What I recall, a ladder or step stool was needed to get in and out while beached. The transom, engine cover area was also difficult.

 

[QC22]

Good thing we all agree… personally, I would NOT do a direct or V-Drive (wakeboard boat) for a first boat. Get something trimmable (I/O or OB) until you figure it all out.

 

[Javajoe]

Don’t be afraid to get a big boat. That way you won’t need to upgrade. My first boat is a 28’ Magic deck with a 625. Great family boat. We wake board, tube etc and easy walk on and off. No need to get anything else.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Don’t listen to all the neigh-sayers. I say that you go big with as much power possible. I am thankful that we ended up with a 210. I do have to agree with kids and the water sports It might be better with a V. Especially with the same motor. What ever you do be sure to post up the boat you get and the kids having a blast!!!!

 

[rrrr]

This post will sound like I'm trying to frighten the OP into running away from boating. But what I'm going to say isn't an unreasonable rant by some cranky old fuck. I don't think I've ever posted something similar to what I'm going to say, and it's influenced by some of the things I've personally witnessed and had to act in response, including a night boat collision and drownings. I have boated for 50 years, and owned boats that ran the entire scale of performance and size. We did all watersports possible, even years of parasailing, without incident or injury.

Imagine being an inexperienced boat operator in a 26' Commander and a preteen kid down in the water with a wakeboard floating nearby. You're already a hundred yards away from her, and the gap is increasing because of the wind.

You will have to come about. The long nose and significant freeboard of the boat will make it difficult to see the child. Unfamiliar with the action of wind and waves, along with the requirements to quickly shift between forward and reverse while making proper helm inputs, will make one or more missed approaches more likely. She will have to board a boat that is difficult for a kid to manage.

If forced to approach from the port side because of wind and waves, the child will be out of sight at a critical time. Where is the wakeboard and the tow rope? Can you properly position the boat upwind from her, cut the engine, and use the wind and waves to your advantage in reaching her?

Now think about this same situation, with three kids in the water after an inflatable dumps them in the water. Two fall together, but the third hangs on for another couple of hundred feet before letting go. Now they're all drifting apart. Managing this in what are pretty big and heavy boats for a beginner, that maneuver poorly in off plane tight quarters, is not easy.

Please think about these things. Your initial choices of the Commander and a Carrera cat along with your lack of experience are not compatible with family boating with multiple children. Have you honestly assessed this? Has your desire for a somewhat flashy boat colored your descriptions to your wife of your ability to be responsible for your kids safety? Is she really aware of the possible consequences of your learning curve?

OP, I'm not trying to be a dick or denigrate your abilities. Handling a boat in the scenarios I have constructed above are not an unusual occurrence, especially when you and your kids are learning how to manage tubes and wakeboards in the real world. Children in the water with suboptimal water conditions and other boats nearby is stressful. Misapplication of throttle and steering under pressure is a real thing.

Please consider the more conservative idea of owning a boat similar in size to what I and others have described above. A 22' to 24' vee hull with I/O power or Yamaha jet boat is the antithesis of even a mild performance cat or vee hull. But they're much more accommodating to your mission and experience level. They're set up to entertain everyone in the family, and have a much better and bigger interior layout, along with superior storage capacity. Believe me, even that basic and very nice boat will present challenges you won't be prepared for, but in the end will provide everyone in the family with a much more enjoyable experience. You'll learn the details of boat operations and safety quickly.

Whatever your decisions are, I just ask that you think about everything surrounding them.

Thanks.

 

[NicPaus]

That Chaparral is a perfect boat.
I had a four winns real similar and 26' with 496HO. Used the four winns a lot more as it was easier and better for watersports. Only sold it as I lost my free storage for it.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

Good thing we all agree… personally, I would NOT do a direct or V-Drive (wakeboard boat) for a first boat. Get something trimmable (I/O or OB) until you figure it all out.

Not sure why you say that. 1st boat is a direct drive ski boat and couldn’t be happier. I ski the kids wakeboard and tube. It’s almost impossible to kick or get hit by the prop low freeboard so easy to get in out of with large swim step. Has perfect pass so I just set the speed so all the wife has to do is drive straight when I ski and the boat does the rest.

Around the docks it’s easy to maneuver you just have to know that it only backs up in one direction. Wife easily launches the boat and drives it back on the trailer at the end of the day. She’d rather do that than drive the truck and trailer.

 

[QC22]

Not sure why you say that. 1st boat is a direct drive ski boat and couldn’t be happier. I ski the kids wakeboard and tube. It’s almost impossible to kick or get hit by the prop

My first thought was shallow water and beaching which is common on Havasu. Agree on the safety part although a large swimstep helps with an I/O and safety.

We all have different experiences, one thing we really don’t know is the level experience here. Yeah, I know we’re discussing a first boat, but how much time on other’s boats? Crewing? Helping? All this comes into play.

 

[ChrisV]

Get whichever one is faster. Kids don’t like to see daddy lose.

 

[Albert]

Go big or go home. Get a dcb with twin turbo Carson motors!

And don’t forget the black socks and flat bill hat

 

[Boatymcboatface]

My first thought was shallow water and beaching which is common on Havasu. Agree on the safety part although a large swimstep helps with an I/O and safety.

We all have different experiences, one thing we really don’t know is the level experience here. Yeah, I know we’re discussing a first boat, but how much time on other’s boats? Crewing? Helping? All this comes into play.

I helped my brother in law tie off his boat at Roadrunner 2 times before buying mine. The rest of the time l spent on a boat I was hammered!

 

[50onRED]

I’ve spent lots of time in the Commander 26 Signature. They are very well built boats. They handle well, perform decently, can cut through just about anything and fit the entire family. The 496HO is the perfect engine for a 26. Most of them were originally gelcoated by the same guy who was doing Eliminator in the early 2000s so gelcoat wise they look good. I believe Sai the owner of Commander is still around for service needs.

 

[pkrrvr619]

leave it to a performance boating site to try and talk a guy out of getting a performance boat

OP, my vote is the commander. there are plenty of guys on here and in the scene in general that will can give you tips tricks, and all the rest to get you up to speed. the 496 was my first performance boat motor and it sounds great, sips gas, is a god damn work horse, and will give you years of fun with minimal up keep and insurance costs.

on that 26 I imagine you'll get into the 60s which is plenty fast for a first boat and can get you acclimated to see if you want speed, or wake sports.
nothing worse than buying a boat that does 45 cruising speed when you have a need for speed.

take it slow, practice picking up buoys and life jackets before you put people in the water, don't approach a dock faster than you'd want to hit it, and get some seat time.

you'll be fine.

 

[Havasu blue label]

I’ve spent lots of time in the Commander 26 Signature. They are very well built boats. They handle well, perform decently, can cut through just about anything and fit the entire family. The 496HO is the perfect engine for a 26. Most of them were originally gelcoated by the same guy who was doing Eliminator in the early 2000s so gelcoat wise they look good. I believe Sai the owner of Commander is still around for service needs.

Sai is a good guy

 

[dave29]

21'-24' v hull with an IO. That will be plenty of boat for what you want to do. If you have no experience owning a boat and you're kids will be with you every outing, you want something smaller so that you can see what's going on in the water. You also want something that's easy to get in and out of.
You might also consider a tournament style boat. The downside is rougher ride and low top speed. There are a ton of them for sale. V-drive will be great at slow speeds and towing. They're practically on plane when they're idling.

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

I'll be the wet blanket old man.

Consider buying a decent low time 24' production boat, Chaparral is a good choice. Something from the 2015-2019 era will be affordable, and you'll learn the many things necessary to be an efficient and safe captain.

Be objective about your visions with a boat. The kids will be happier with a towered boat and ballast system. You're really buying a boat for them, and I think the hull design is safer when getting them in and out of the water. The one I linked below has direct swim platform access through a stern opening. The tower can stow wakeboards and a tube, something to consider when you have three juniors.

Yeah, you'll look cooler in the Commander, but look again at that hull and picture your children having to climb in and out of it on the water. Think about circling back to retrieve a small fallen wakeboarder, the restricted sightlines, and the ability to maneuver with the Chaparral duo-prop drive compared to the Commander. The duo-prop doesn't have torque steer, it backs up straight and true. The Commander will tail off to the side when backing in reverse, making positioning more difficult. The Chaparral will plane faster with less bow rise than the other boat.

Again, you have a family. What input does your wife have in the decision?Boating for them will have different expectations than you might, they'll want the experience to be fun for them. They'll want to bring their friends. The boat is going to be an amusement park ride, and the quality of it depends on you, and it's a lot of work. If they aren't begging to go to the lake, it'll evolve into "Do we have to go?"

This does not mean you won't have fun. My best boating memories are pulling laughing kids on a big towable, and some occasionally being bounced off when crossing the wake. The laughter and smiles are gold.

Part of boating is becoming proficient and again, safe, in towing the kids, docking, trailering the boat, launching, retrieving, and basic maintenance. This takes time and effort, but it's also important to becoming a captain. A smaller and lighter boat will place fewer demands on your learning curve. Take a Coast Guard affiliated boater safety course too.

Keep it a season or two, then decide to upgrade to something with more performance. This one is a good example. If you're going to finance the purchase, the monthly would be less than $500 with a reasonable down payment.

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2017-chaparral-227-ssx-surf-9408673/

^^^^^This^^^^^

Newer boat and will be 1000 times more comfortable and reliable too!! Those other 2 can have hidden issues too that can end up costing you a ton of money.

 

[stephenkatsea]

I am very impressed with your selection of the Carerra 257 Effect X. A very impressive boat. But, probably not a good “first boat” selection. Family friendly boats? For your first boat? If it’s rough and/or very crowded on your river or lake, stay and play at the dock. A V hull would be your best first boat.